District Attorney Bonnie Dumanis, the president of the Sheriff's Association and crime victim advocates are expected Thursday to announce their opposition to Proposition 34, which would repeal the death penalty in California and replace it with life imprisonment.

Supporters of the measure say the death penalty is morally wrong and that Prop. 34 would save the state millions of dollars each year, which could instead be used for a fund that would help local enforcement agencies solve homicides and sex crimes.

Opponents, however, say that the measure would let criminals avoid justice. They say also that death penalty serves as a deterrent to vicious crimes and that taxpayers would have to foot the bill to keep criminals imprisoned for life.

Many state law enforcement associations have voiced their opposition to the measure.